Too light a penalty

Concerning your Feb. 16 item "Woman is fined $1,000 after 3rd DWI conviction," more than 40,000 people die in automobile accidents annually in America, and half of those accidents are caused by drunken drivers. Fining an offender for driving drunk a third time is an insult to law-abiding drivers. What was Judge Thomas Manahan thinking?
How about jail time for drunken drivers -- one year for the first offense, two years for the second and 10 years for the third? No plea deals, no excuses; you drive drunk, you do the time.
It's not asking too much for the state to take major steps to protect me and my family from drunken drivers. We seem so concerned about the rights of people who commit crimes, but the right of state residents to feel safe are almost completely ignored. If Manahan thinks I'm being overly critical or harsh, then the next time there is an alcohol-related crash that results in death, let him go with the rescue squad and the police to see the results. Perhaps seeing a horrific car crash will clear the cobwebs from his head.